Terry Sanchez

Terry Sanchez (died 1854) was the President of the Republic of Queimada from 1845 to 1854. He led the Queimadan Revolution in the capital city and killed the Portuguese governor, but ruled as a pro-United Kingdom dictator until his death at the hands of General Alfonso Prada in 1854.

Biography


Terry Sanchez was born to the Portuguese nobility of the Lesser Antilles island of Queimada, and was one of the landowners of the island. Sanchez played a key role in the sugarcane business and in 1844 he was convinced to lead a revolution against Portugal by Sir William Walker, an agent of the United Kingdom. Sanchez shot the Governor of Queimada and became the first President of the Republic of Queimada in 1845 when the provisional government and rebel army was dissolved. However, the popular hero was the African general Jose Dolores, who led the former slaves to victory over the Portuguese Army.

Sanchez ruled Queimada for ten years, but after selling exploitation rights to the Royal Antilles Sugar Company in 1847, riots broke out. The sugarcane cutters sacked Queimada in February 1848, so Sanchez had to order the army to intervene. Uprisings began on other parts of the island and Jose Dolores was made the leader of the rebels, so the United Kingdom intervened.

Downfall
Walker returned to the island on the orders of the Royal Antilles Sugar Company and Sanchez tasked him with putting down the rebellion. However, Sanchez eventually told General Alfonso Prada that he wanted to share power with Prada, telling him that Sanchez would have full say over any moves in the army or for the future of the country. Sanchez planned to arrest Walker, who was leading the burning of rebel villages, but in a coup, Prada and his men instead arrested Sanchez in his palace. Prada installed a provisional government, and Sanchez was executed by firing squad in Queimada's fortress as British troops arrived in the country.